Held Accountable
1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
One of the biggest blessings I’ve gained at college is my roommate Hanna Michalisin. Hanna and I met freshman year through RUF and have been sisters ever since. Living with her this past year taught me what true friendship should look like and one of the best ways she exemplifies that is through accountability. Every night before we went to sleep we would lay in our beds and ask each other one or more questions to hold each other accountable to things we had previously recognized as weak areas of our Christian lives. Each night I had to give an account on whether I was working towards improvements or neglecting them. These nightly questions allowed us to be vulnerable in areas we often didn’t share about, and to be there for one another in an intentional way.
We can all think of daily practices or habits or pitfalls we don’t want other people to know about, whether out of pride, fear, or embarrassment. A true friend would respond to your struggles with grace and a helping hand, never shame or contempt. Find that friend who you can trust and break the barrier of pride for the sake of growing closer to the Lord together. It may be laziness, foul language, porn, poor decisions in a relationship, isolation, etc., it’s the door to the struggle you fear being called out on most that you should open to a brother or sister in Christ. We were created to live in community with fellow believers, and a part of that calling is loving each other so much that we call each other out in sin so we might see spiritual growth and transformation and so that transformation may lead others closer to Christ as well.
Accountability builds trust and encourages honesty. Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one body.” What good is a friend who has no idea you need encouragement to stay sober? How much sweeter is the friend who knows you wish to be more present in your family and who holds you to it? How beautiful is the friendship built on honesty, trust, and safety? The friend that happily listens and sincerely desires for you to be drawn closer to the Lord is the friend you can openly share with.
Accountability lightens burdens. If your accountability partner truly loves you and loves the Lord, they will be more than a listening ear, but will walk alongside you. This is not a ‘one and done’ conversation, but a significant aspect to your friendship. Instead of bottling up this sin and pride, you can fight it with someone who wants to fight with you. Just as we can call upon the Lord for all of our needs, God also intentionally places people in our lives to walk with us and fight the good fight hand in hand. Galatians very concisely tells us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The burden of sin is one we cannot carry on our own, so lay your burdens at Christ’s feet and take a look at those around you doing the same.
Accountability protects. Think of the dangers of sin and temptation. The loss of friends, separation from God, pain, death, broken relationships, isolation, and so many other undesirable outcomes can come from a life in sin. Allow others to see your sin and love you still. Allow someone to grab your hand and help pull you away from those dangers. God gives us brothers and sisters to walk alongside one another in unity, find those people and let them into your life.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8